The 2012 Beat the Streets Gala was a Blast!
- 74kg World Champ Jordan Burroughs
For the second straight year, Beat the Streets held their annual event at Times Square right in the heart of New York City. A gala at the world famous Roseland Ballroom followed the wrestling card.
60kg Olympic Preliminary – Reece Humphrey vs Coleman Scott
The event kicked off with a match between Reece Humphrey and Coleman Scott to determine who would take on Shawn Bunch for the 60kg spot on the US Olympic Freestyle team. Scott was able to defeat Humphrey 1-0, 0-1, 1-0 without the benefit of a single takedown with both of his scores coming off of ball draws.
BTS Youth and HS Matches
The crown of several thousand was treated to some exciting matches between the young wrestlers who are the very essence of the Beat the Streets program. Make no mistake about it, NYC (or the PSAL) is the “sleeping giant” of New York State high school wrestling. This past year season, we saw 5 PSAL wrestlers finish in the top six of their weight…. the most ever from the PSAL. The Beat the Streets program assures that this season was not a fluke but rather just a sign of things to come!
60kg Olympic Wrestle-Off – Shawn Bunch vs Coleman Scott – Match #1
Scott, a PA native, is able to defeat Bunch by a score of 1-0, 0-1, 7-0. This was the first time that Scott had ever defeated Bunch on the freestyle circuit. It would prove to be a huge confident boost for the Oklahoma State grad.
Women’s Exhibition Match – Helen Maroulis vs Ashley Hudson
Before the US/Russia match, the fans were treated to an exhibition match between Helen Maroulis and Ashley Hudson. In one of the most action-packed matches of the entire event, Maroulis was able to defeat Hudson by a score of 4-0, 2-1.
USA vs Russia – 55kg, 60kg, and 66kg
55kg – Artas Sanaa (Russia) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (USA), 1-0, 2-0; Hazewinkle was game but slightly over-matched by the young, flamboyant Russia.
60kg – Logan Stieber (USA) dec. Akhmed Chakaev (Russia), 1-3, 7-0, 5-4; Nobody told Steiber, a 2012 NCAA champion as a freshman who was just filling this spot while the weight is being wrestled off, that he was supposed to lose….what an absolute barn-burner!
66kg – Jared Frayer (USA) dec. Dzalaludin Kurbanaliev (Russia), 5-0, 0-2, 1-0; Check out the highlight of this match courtesy of FloWrestling…please notice the two insane guys in suits (me and Al Bevilacqua) who are letting the official know that it was a “five” (like he could have missed it).
USA leads 2 matches to 1 against the mighty Russians!!!!
60kg Olympic Wrestle-Off – Shawn Bunch vs Coleman Scott – Match #2
With a second period ball draw and a third period push out, Bunch, who wrestled at Edinboro, was able to defeat Scott and force a third and decisive match!
USA vs Russia – 74kg, 84kg, 96kg, and 120kg
74kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Kamel Malikov (Russia), 8-0, 5-0; absolute domination by NJ native Burroughs; 4 double legs, 3 push-outs, 1 super-duck plus exposure….he’s on a mission!
84kg – Andrey Valiev (Russia) dec. Keith Gavin (USA), 5-0, 3-2; very impressive 5-point throw by the Russian ended the first; slick 3-point arm throw in the second. Gavin, a PA native, was just filling in for US team member Jake Herbert, also a PA native, who is nursing a minor injury.
96kg – Shamil Akhmedov (Russia) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 1-2, 1-1, 2-0; Bergman, filling in for US team member Jake Varner, started of strong winning the first off two high doubles. His Russian opponent made adjustments though and won the next two periods tying the team score at 3 matches each with one match remaining!!!
120kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) pin Eduard Bazrov (Russia), 0:25; After an exciting scramble, the American was able to pin the Russian giving team USA the 4-3 decision! USA! USA! USA!
60kg Olympic Wrestle-Off – Shawn Bunch vs Coleman Scott – Match #3
Not much action in the first period. Scott wins the ball draw and takes the first period after the bully double. Period two was one for the ages! Scott in deep; Bunch defends with a front headlock and is trying for exposure; Scott then lifts Bunch up and sends him to his back for a takedown with exposure; Bunch’s corner challenges the call; after a much heated discussion the officials have made their decision….”5″ for Scott….match over and Coleman Scott is your 60kg Olympic Team member!!!
As most of you are aware, Monroe Woodbury freshman wrestler Vinny Vespa has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The support his family has been receiving from the community has been incredible. The wrestling community, specifically, has been amazing! Vinny and his family have been and remain in the thoughts and prayers of a tight-knit wrestling “family” that knows no boundaries. Well-wishes and contributions have been delivered by wrestlers from NY to California, Minnesota to Texas and every state in between.
